In final act of heroism, soldier saves wife

Updated 8:32 pm, Saturday, November 17, 2012

Patriot Guard riders pray Friday for the victims and their families, who had been on the way to an honorary banquet.

Patriot Guard riders pray Friday for the victims and their families, who had been on the way to an honorary banquet.

Photo: Tim Fischer, MBO

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Army Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34.

Army Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34.

Photo: HONS

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Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Boivin, 47.

Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Boivin, 47.

Photo: HONS

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Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Boivin, 47.

Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Boivin, 47.

Photo: HONS

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Army Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34.

Army Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34.

Photo: HONS

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A worker photographs the scene Friday of the crash that involved a Union Pacific train and a parade float carrying military veterans in Midland. Four veterans were killed in the accident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon. Local officials reported there had been 10 crashes at that crossing.

A worker photographs the scene Friday of the crash that involved a Union Pacific train and a parade float carrying military veterans in Midland. Four veterans were killed in the accident, which occurred on

A worker photographs the scene Friday of the crash that involved a Union Pacific train and a parade float carrying military veterans in Midland. Four veterans were killed in the accident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon. Local officials reported there had been 10 crashes at that crossing.

A worker photographs the scene Friday of the crash that involved a Union Pacific train and a parade float carrying military veterans in Midland. Four veterans were killed in the accident, which occurred on

The 34-year-old retired Army sergeant from the San Antonio area - who served two tours in Iraq, was struck by two IEDs and suffered traumatic brain injuries earning him two Purple Hearts - was one of four veterans killed in Midland when a Union Pacific train hit the parade float taking them to a ceremony in their honor. The others killed were identified as U.S. Army Sgts. Gary Stouffer, 37, and Lawrence Boivin, 47, and William Lubbers, 43. Sixteen others were injured.

Union Pacific officials initially said lights and crossing arms at the intersection appeared to be working, but the National Transportation Safety Board backed off of that statement on Friday.

"We have not determined yet if they were working properly," said Mark Rosekind, a board member, at the scene of the crash. "We don't have a lot of information yet."

Rosekind said that the train, which was traveling at 62 mph, applied its emergency brakes, although it's not yet known how soon before the collision the train crew tried to slow down.

Midland Police Chief Price Robinson would not say if the driver of the tractor hauling the trailer was at fault.

Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange said the train was sounding its horn before the crash, but at least one witness, Joe Cobarubio, said the horn came too late.

Cobarubio, who was recording the parade and continued to record after the crash, also said the crossing arms came down after the truck passed crossed through the intersection, falling in the middle of the tractor-trailer.

"The train didn't blow the horn until about three seconds before it hit the trailer," he said. "You could see all of the people turn around, because they heard the train, and they were stumbling around, falling over the crossing arm."

10 crashes at crossing

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 10 crashes have occurred at the intersection - Industrial Avenue and Garfield Street - between 1979 and 1997, none fatal. No accidents had happened in the past 15 years, Rosekind said.

The Michaels were among 24 vets and their guests in town courtesy of the annual Hunt for Heroes, a program sponsored by Show of Support, which selects injured veterans to participate in a white-tailed deer hunt. The parade, en route to a banquet at Horseshoe Arena, included two flatbed trucks. While the first float passed over the crossing, the second float, carrying 12 veterans, 12 spouses and two escorts, did not.

Daylyn Michael spoke briefly Friday, in tears and at times even apologizing that she couldn't remember the incident with more clarity.

"Daylyn said the last thing she saw was Joshua flying through the air," said the soldier's mother-in-law, Mary Hefley of Amarillo.

Daylyn Michael said she'll always remember her husband as a devoted soldier and family man.

"He would do anything for us, and he proved it time and time again," she said. "I sat by the phone for two years while he was at war, and the day he died, I was by his side. For that I'm grateful. I'm grateful that our kids didn't lose both of their parents."

Two Iraq tours

For the Show of Support event, Joshua Michael had been asked to provide a short biography. He wrote about his wife as much as he wrote about himself, even including her photo.

"I've been married to Daylyn, my gorgeous wife, for 15 years," he wrote. "I have a son, Ryan (14) who also loves to hunt with me and my daughter, Maci (7)."

He served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division in 2003 and 2006.

The second tour turned out to be especially hard on the young couple. During that time, Daylyn Michael was treated for thyroid cancer. She now is cancer-free and taking calcium supplements for her health, Hefley said.

Joshua was injured three times on that tour. He broke three ribs when a projectile hit his body armor, and was later sent to Fort Sam Houston for treatment of traumatic brain injuries.

'She is amazing'

He wrote, "Meanwhile, Daylyn had undergone her own set of heartbreak and challenges. She had taken care of our kids; she kept our household afloat; she supported me in Iraq with care packages and needs lists sent weekly; she had fought and won her own battle with cancer. She is amazing to say the least."

He and Daylyn and their two children settled into a house in Converse.